Device for adjusting the height of a tennis net

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a device for adjusting the height of a tennis court net designed to adapt a net ( 11 ), initially adjusted in height for a doubles match, into a net adjusted in height for a singles match.  
     The device according to the invention is characterized in that it is composed of two flexible cables ( 4 ) and ( 5 ), fixed, by one of their ends, to one of the posts ( 1 ), at two distinct points (A) and (B), and, by the other of their ends, to the stake ( 2 ) that is associated with it, at two distinct points (C) and (D), and in that the length of the aforementioned cables and the position of their fixation points are adapted to guarantee, on the one hand, the positioning of the stake ( 2 ) at the regulation distance from the singles line and, on the other hand, its verticality. It is characterized also in that the cables ( 4 ) and ( 5 ) are adapted to serve as support to at least one advertising sign ( 12 ).

The invention concerns a device for adjusting the height of a tennis court net designed to adapt a net, initially adjusted in height for a doubles match, into a net adjusted in height for a singles match, without having to intervene on the initial adjustment. The aforementioned net is sustained by end poles and the aforementioned adjustment device is constituted of two stakes for heightening of the cable, bearing the aforementioned net, to the regulation height in a singles match and of a means adapted for maintaining each stake in the vertical position at a regulation distance from the singles line.

The dimensions of a tennis court, the position, and the width and height of the net are governed by very strict regulations in a doubles match as in a singles match. The principal regulatory arrangements are:

-   -   The court is a rectangular surface 23.77 m long by 8.23 m wide.         It is divided at the center by a net suspended with a cord or a         metallic cable, of a maximum diameter of 0.8 cm, of which the         ends are fixed at, or pass on the upper part of, two posts of a         15 cm maximum sideways cross-section, or circular of 15 cm         maximum diameter. These posts must not pass the height of the         cord, or of the cable, by more than 2.5 cm, their center must be         situated at the exterior of the court, at 0.194 m from the         sidelines, and their height must be such that the height of the         cord or of the metallic cable is 1.07 m from the ground.     -   When the court is used as a single with a doubles net, the net         must be maintained at a height of 1.07 m by means of single         stakes of 7.5 cm maximum sideways cross-section, or circular of         7.5 cm maximum diameter. Their center must be situated at 0.914         m outside of the single lines of each side of the court.

In the current practice, to permit passage from double into single, a marking on the ground, given the exact of position of the base of the stake, is effectuated on each court. Subsequently, the two stakes are positioned, vertically, on the aforementioned locations.

Such a practice presents disadvantages tied, on the one hand, to the placement of the aforementioned stakes (no mechanical connection with the posts) and, on the other hand, to the line which, at the start, can present a measurement imprecision tied to its owns width thickness and, in time, can present a positioning imprecision tied to its progressive erasing.

Solutions for remedying these disadvantages are described in the patents U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,998 and FR-2825031, which implement articulated devices connected to the poles by rigid arms running on the bare ground.

Unfortunately, such devices present disadvantages tied, on the one hand, to the complexity of the designs (elevated cost, fragility in an atmospheric environment, dimensions not facilitating their folded position against the posts) and, on the other hand, to the fact that the rigid elements of connection placed on the bare ground are against the safety regulations.

The device according to the invention was conceived to remedy these diverse disadvantages, as well as those tied to the lack of stability and of verticality of the aforementioned stakes.

It concerns to this end a device that is characterized essentially in that the means of connection of each stake to the post to which it is tied, is constituted by two flexible cables, fixed, by one of their ends, to the corresponding post, at two distinct points, and, by the other of their ends, to the corresponding stake, at two distinct points, and in that the length of the aforementioned cables and the position of their fixation points are adapted to guarantee, on the one hand, the correct positioning of the stake and, on the other hand, its verticality.

It also concerns the additional function given to the aforementioned cables that is characterized by their supporting role to at least one advertising sign.

The connection between the aforementioned sign and the aforementioned cables is assured by appropriate means of attachment. The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will appear more clearly to the reader of the detailed description which follows of at least one preferred mode of implementation given as a non-limiting example and represented in the attached drawings.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a face view of the device according to the invention, staked in deployed position, and of the part relating to the net and of the part relating to the post.

FIG. 2 is a facial view of the aforementioned device, staked in folded position, and of the part relating to the net and of the part relating to the post.

The device represented in the figures, designed for the regulation of the height of a tennis court net, is designed to adapt a net (11), initially set at the height for a doubles match, into a net set at the height for a singles match; the aforementioned net being supported by end posts (1) and the aforementioned regulation device being composed of two raising stakes (2) of the cable (3), supporter of the aforementioned net, at the regulation height of a singles match and of a means of connection (4,5) adapted to maintain each stake in the vertical position and at the regulation distance from the singles line.

According to the basic characteristics of the invention, the means of connection of each stake (2) to the post (1) to which it is attached, is composed of two flexible cables (4) and (5), fixed, by one of their ends, to the post (1), at two distinct points (A) and (B), and, by the other of their ends, to the stake (2), at two distinct points (C) and (D), and of which the length of the aforementioned cables and the position of their fixation points are adapted to guarantee, on the one hand, the positioning of the stake (2) at the regulation distance from the singles line and, on the other hand, its verticality.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the cables (4) and (5) are adapted to serve as support to at least one advertising sign (12).

The connection between the sign (12) and the cables (4) and (5) is assured by attachment means (13), for example of the auto grip type or by clips.

According to implementation variations of the invention:

-   -   the cables (4) and (5) are cross positioned; they can in this         case include a central support point (E);     -   the cables (4) and (5) are parallely positioned between         themselves;     -   each stake (2) includes, on an upper part, a guiding slot (6)         for the cable (3);     -   each stake (2) includes, on a lower part, a base (7) of support         on the court (8);     -   the device includes at least one means (9) adapted to maintain         each stake (2), in its folded position, against the post (1) to         which it is attached;     -   each post (1) includes a cavity adapted to contain the stake (2)         that is associated with it, in its folded position.

The cable (3) is generally tied to a tensioning-pulley (10).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the implementation modes described and represented for which one will be able to provide other variations, in particular in;

-   -   the type of cable used providing fulfillment of the criteria of         regulation length and of verticality imposed on the stakes as         well as the type of fixation means of the cables to the posts         and to the corresponding stakes;     -   the nature, the dimensions and the positioning of the         advertising sign as well as the type of fixation means of the         aforementioned signs to the cable supports. 

1. A device for regulating the height of a tennis court net designed to adapt a net (11), initially adjusted in height for a doubles match, into a net adjusted in height for a singles match; the aforementioned net being supported by end posts (1) and the aforementioned adjustment device being composed of two stakes (2) for raising of the cable (3), supporter of the aforementioned net, to the singles match regulation height and connection means (4,5) adapted to maintain each stake (2) in the vertical position and at the regulation distance from the singles line: characterized in that the connection means of each stake (2) to the post (1) to which it is attached, is composed of two flexible cables (4) and (5), fixed, by one of their ends, to the post (1), at two distinct points (A) and (B), and, by the other of their ends, to the stake (2), at two distinct points (C) and (D), and in that the length of the aforementioned cables and the position of their fixation points are adapted to guarantee, on the one hand, the positioning of the stake (2) at the regulation distance from the singles line and, on the other hand, its verticality.
 2. The device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the cables (4) and (5) are adapted to serve as support to at least one advertising sign (12).
 3. The device, according to claim 2, characterized in that the connection between a sign (12) and the cables (4) and (5) is assured by attachment means. 4-5. (canceled)
 6. The device, according to claim 1, characterized in that each stake (2) includes, in an upper part, a guiding slot (6) of the cable (3).
 7. The device, according to claim 1, characterized in that each stake (2) includes, in a lower part, a base (7) of support on the court (8).
 8. The device, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one means (9) adapted to maintain each stake (2), in its folded position, against the post (1) to which it is attached.
 9. The device, according to claim 1, characterized in that each post (1) includes a cavity adapted to contain the stake (2) that is associated with it, in its folded position. 